New Hall At Belfast.

The first sentiment was the Queen and Craft . This was duly honoured , the band , which was in an adjoining marquee , playing the National Anthem . The Grand Lodge of Ireland and all other Grand Lodges in Fraternal communication with same was next submitted , and was responded to by Bro . J . Creed Meredith .

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Antrim was given and warmly honoured . Bro , Valentine D . P . G . M ., in responding , referred to the great pleasure it was to him to be present on such an auspicious occasion , and referred to the progress of Masonry in the Province .

That day was a practical proof of it from the ceremony they had performed . The great necessity for a suitable hall in that district was very marked , as the schoolroom in which the Brethren held their meetings was unsuitable for their requirements at the present ; time , and also , he understood , the lease of same had

expired . He considered it a noble undertaking in getting up this new hall , and the Brethren concerned deserved every credit . He hoped that the Masons not only in this Province but others would liberally support them in erecting this temple , and have it opened at an early date free of debt .

Prosperity to the Craft was next given , to which Brother Colonel M'Calmont , M . P ., in his own happy manner , responded . He stated that he was more than pleased to be present on this occasion , and to render to his Brethren in this district of the city any assistance he could for the honour and advancement of the

Order with which they were all proud to be connected . As the President had mentioned he had come specially from London to attend , but he found since his arrival that it would be at least a few days before his return , owing to other important events occuring within the next few days .

The health of Bro . J . Hilton , J . P ., Provincial Grand Secretary was submitted , and enthusiastically received . In responding Bro . Hilton wished the Lodges in that district every success in their undertaking , and hoped they would achieve their object in opening the hall free of debt .

The next toast which the President gave was the health of Alderman M'Connell , J . P ., who had kindly given the site for the hall free , and the President regretted much that Mr . M'Connell could not be with them that day owing to his not being connected with the Order , as it was the intention of the Committee to have

bin lay one of . the stones . However , that could not be carried out under the circumstances , regrettable , the President remarked , both for Alderman M'Connell and also , he believed , for their undertaking , as he was very generously disposed towards their object . This sentiment was most enthusiastically honoured and duly responded to . A collection having been taken up for the new hall , several other toasts were given and responded to . — " Northern Whig . "

Church Services.

CHURCH SERVICES .

AS reported by us at the time , a well attended Service took place at Colchester in connection with the Jubilee celebrations , when a very striking sermon was preached by the Venerable the Archdeacon of Essex Bro . the Eev . Thomas Stevens , Vicar of St . John ' s , Stratford , P . M . 1280 , P . P . G .

Chaplain Essex and P . G . Chaplain Eng ., who at the outset remarked that by their membership of the ancient Order in which they were enrolled they were met together that afternoon for one great object , perhaps , first of all , but with that one great object , he took it , other objects were closely associated . They were met to join in a solemn service of thanksgiving , and

to associate themselves with the great national thanksgiving which had gone up from this country to the Throne of Grace for the many blessings which had been bestowed upon them during the reign of . their most gracious Sovereign Queen Victoria , and they , as loyal , Free , and Accepted Masons , would not be slack in joining their voices in that thanksgiving .

It might be that some oi them who were now present took part in the great meeting held in London not very long ago , a meeting to which it would be difficult to find a parallel , a meeting to which , for unanimity , for enthusiasm , for loyal demonstration , one would have , he thought , a difficulty and almost an

impossibility in finding an equal . And they to-day would join together , in the same cordial spirit of loyalty in expressing their thankfulness to God for the mercies great and unnumbered which had been repeated in the prayer in which they had recently joined . The great discoveries of the hidden mysteries of nature , the wonderful growth of better relations between different classes

of society , the wondrous spread of the knowledge of God and the Gospel of Christ throughout the world—these were among the objects which they had this afternoon to thank God for . But they had also , as they knew , to show their thankfulness in a practical manner by trying to do something which should testif y to their heartfelt gratitude . As God , looking down from heaven , knew no distinction between man and man , but His mercy was

Church Services.

over all His works , so were they there that afternoon not to help charities which only benefited members of their own Order , but , as in the case of many others that had been helped by that Order , with out-stretched hand and liberal gifts , to help those in

sickness , in suffering , and m para ; to do what they could to alleviate the sufferings of their brother men ; to help forward the great healing of the breaches between man and man , and the healing of the diseases and pain which racked the human frame .

They were also met together that afternoon to bind more closely together their own bonds of fellowship , that brother might clasp the hand of Brother more generously , more truly , because they had joined together in this act of common worship of Almighty God . With these objeets before them , it seemed to

him that there was one text beyond all others , not that he had chosen , but which at least in some way was chosen for him to spsak to them upoD , a text which was very simple , very practical , very comprehensive , and eminently in the spirit of that Order to which they belonged . The text he gave them would be found in the 2 nd chapter of the 1 st Epistle of St . Peter , and the 17 th verse ,

" Honour all men . Love the brotherhood . Fear God . Honour the king . " Alluding to the fact that in past days many crimes had been committed in the name of liberty , fraternity , and equality , he said they must remember that as servants of God they must not use that liberty which they enjoyed to injure or detract from the liberty of others , but hold all men in respect and esteem .

There were some who thought that they should withhold their fellowship from those who differed from them in religious belief , and some had urged that they should exclude from their brotherhood those who were not disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ ; but to such he would say , take this text , and honour all

men , hold all men in respect and esteem , and by well doing put to silence the ignorance of foolish men . They were not to withhold the right hand of fellowship from fellow men because they thought . slightly or even altogether differently from themselves ; rather should they welcome them into their ranks in

the hope that they might be led by that bright morning star which brought to light the faithful followers of our Saviour , and extend the right hand of fellowship , not only to those with whom they agreed , but also those with whom they did not—win them over , if they could , to the better path by showing respect for

their honest convictions , as they would wish respect shown for those that they held themselves . All this they did . They knew as well as he did that in their meetings they had among them those of every varying shades of religious belief , very differing opinions . Those of them who were present at the meeting in

London would remember that they had there representatives of all nations of the world , and they were thankful to see them , and thankful that they were able , in some way or other , to find a bond of union which would draw them together , and make them feel that in deed and in truth in the great family of God they were all brothers .

No doubt St . Peter , when he uttered the words of the text , said them with special reference to his brothers in Christ , but he did not think he should be wrong in saying that they might apply them to their own brotherhood . When they met they met in the spirit of charity , of love , in order that they might help one

another , bear one another ' s burdens , snare one another ' s sorrows and toils , and as they looked back upon these last 60 years , surely if there was one thing more than another that was characteristic of the Victorian age it had been the yearning for a

better brotherhood among men and the nations of the world . There was a strong desire now that wars might cease , and that the nations of the world might lay down their arms—a desire that the great brotherhood of man might be recognised , based upon the Fatherhood of God .

Freemasons had done something—he ventured to say they had done much—to promote that feeling of brotherhood between man and man , between nation ana nation . They would remember that last year burst all at once a war-cloud over this country . There was a sudden danger , and a

panic almost at the thought of war with the United States of America . It came by a strange coincidence on the morning of Christmas Day , and that great time of peace and good will was overshadowed by tins dark cloud hanging over us , the risk of what would have been one of the most terrible wars

between two peoples speaking the same tongue—people that ought to be iu very truth brethren . They had heard , he dared say , the message that was flashed under the waters of the Atlantic by the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of England to the Freemasons

of America . No more truly Christian message , no more truly peaceful message , no message more characteristic of the great principle upon which their Order was based could possibly be conceived , because that message ran : " Glory to God in the highest , and on earth peace , goodwill towards men . " And in this spirit , Freemasonry was binding closer and closer , as the years went forward , the nations of the world in peace and